Cylinder block cooling jacket insert allowing separated cooling circuits

ABSTRACT

A number of variations may include at least one insert that may have a concave surface, a convex surface, a first and second side surface, a top surface, and a bottom surface. The insert may be disposed within the cooling jacket of the engine block and may define a first and a second cooling jacket portion. The insert may allow for fluid communication between the first and second cooling jacket portions.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The field to which the disclosure generally relates includes cooling circuits.

BACKGROUND

Engine cylinder blocks typically include a cooling jacket surrounding a number of cylinder bores in order to maintain an ideal cylinder block temperature.

SUMMARY OF ILLUSTRATIVE VARIATIONS OF THE INVENTION

A number of variations may include a product that may include a cooling jacket insert assembly that may include at least one insert. The at least one insert may include a concave surface, a convex surface, a first and second side surface, a bottom surface, and a top surface. The top surface may define one or more feed inlets.

A number of variations may include a product that may include a cooling jacket insert assembly that may include at least one insert. The at least one insert may include a concave surface, a convex surface, a first and second side surface, a bottom surface, and a top surface. The at least one insert may define one or more through holes in the concave surface and the convex surface. The top surface may define one or more feed inlets.

A number of variations may include a product including an engine cylinder block and a cooling jacket insert assembly that may include at least one insert. The engine cylinder block may include a plurality of cylinder bores and a cooling jacket. The cooling jacket may be adjacent to and surround at least a portion of the plurality of cylinder bores. The cooling jacket insert assembly may include at least one insert and may divide the cooling jacket into a first cooling jacket portion not adjacent the plurality of cylinder bores and a second cooling jacket portion adjacent the plurality of cylinder bores. The at least one insert may include a concave surface, a convex surface, a first and second side surface, a bottom surface, and a top surface. The at least one insert may define one or more through holes in the concave surface and the convex surface. The top surface may define one or more feed inlets. The one or more feed inlets may be constructed and arranged to allow a fluid coolant to flow through the one or more feed inlets into the first cooling jacket portion. The one or more through holes may be constructed and arranged for allowing fluid coolant to flow from the first cooling jacket portion to the second cooling jacket portion and vice versa.

A number of variations may include a method of cooling an engine cylinder block that may include providing an engine cylinder clock that may include a plurality of cylinder bores and a cooling jacket and providing a cooling jacket insert assembly that may include at least one insert. The method may further include separating the cooling jacket into a first cooling jacket portion and a second cooling jacket portion wherein the first cooling jacket portion may be in fluid communication with both the second cooling jacket portion and one or more feed inlets.

Other illustrative variations within the scope of the invention will become apparent from the detailed description provided hereinafter. It should be understood that the detailed description and enumerated variations, while disclosing optional variations, are intended for purposes of illustration only and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Select examples of variations within the scope of the invention will become more fully understood from the detailed description and the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 View A illustrates variation of an insert;

FIG. 1 View B illustrates variation of an insert;

FIG. 2A shows a sectional view of one illustrative variation of an insert;

FIG. 2B shows a sectional view of FIG. 2A according to line B-B; and

FIG. 2C shows a sectional view of FIG. 2A according to line C-C.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF ILLUSTRATIVE VARIATIONS OF THE INVENTION

The following description of the variations is merely illustrative in nature and is in no way intended to limit the scope of the invention, its application, or uses. The following description of variants is only illustrative of elements, acts, products, and methods considered to be within the scope of the invention and are not in any way intended to limit such scope by what is specifically disclosed or not expressly set forth. The elements, acts, products, and methods as described herein may be combined and rearranged other than as expressly described herein and still are considered to be within the scope of the invention.

Referring to FIG. 1, View A and View B, a number of variations may include a product that may include a cooling jacket insert assembly 10 that may include at least one insert 12. Each individual insert 12 may include a concave surface 14, a convex surface 16, a first side surface 18, a second side surface 20, a bottom surface 22, and a top surface 24. The top surface 24 may define one or more feed outlets 26. The at least one insert 12 may define one or more through holes 28. At last one insert 12 may be connected to an adjacent insert 12 via one or more tie bands 30.

Referring to FIG. 2A, an engine cylinder block 32 may include a cooling jacket 34 and a plurality of cylinder bores 36. A cooling jacket insert assembly 10 may be constructed and arranged to separate the cooling jacket 34 into a first cooling jacket portion 40 and a second cooling jacket portion 42 wherein the first cooling jacket portion 40 may be in fluid communication with both the second cooling jacket portion 42 and one or more feed outlets 26.

Referring to FIG. 2B, which depicts a variation according to sectional view drawn by line B-B in FIG. 2A. An engine cylinder block 32 may define a cooling jacket 34. A cooling jacket insert assembly 10 may include at least one insert 12 that may be constructed and arranged to separate the cooling jacket 34 into a first cooling jacket portion 40 and a second cooling jacket portion 42 wherein the first cooling jacket portion 40 may be in fluid communication with both the second cooling jacket portion 42. The at least one insert 12 may also define at least one feed outlet 26.

Referring to FIG. 2C, which depicts a variation according to sectional view drawn by line C-C in FIG. 2A. An engine cylinder block 32 may define a cooling jacket 34 and a coolant inlet 44. A cooling jacket insert assembly 10 may include at least one insert 12 that may be constructed and arranged to separate the cooling jacket 34 into a first cooling jacket portion 40 and a second cooling jacket portion 42 wherein the first cooling jacket portion 40 may be in fluid communication with both the second cooling jacket portion 42. The at least one insert 12 may also define at least one through holes 28.

The at least one insert may have a concave surface, a convex surface, a first and second side surface, a top surface, and a bottom surface. The concave surface and the convex surface may be juxtaposed such that the curve of the convex surface follows a curve similar to that of the concave surface, or vice versa. The at least one insert may define at least one through hole and at least one feed outlet. The at least one through hole may extend from the concave surface through the insert to the convex surface. The at least one feed outlet may be defined in the top surface of the at least one insert.

The cooling jacket insert assembly may include at least one insert constructed and arranged to separate a cooling jacket into a first cooling jacket portion and a second cooling jacket portion. Multiple inserts may be arranged within a cooling jacket and may be fixed to one another via one or more tie bands arranged between each individual insert.

According to variation 1, a product may include at least one insert. The at least one insert may have a concave surface, a convex surface, a first and second side surface, a top surface, and a bottom surface. The concave surface and the convex surface may be juxtaposed such that the curve of the convex surface follows a curve similar to that of the concave surface, or vice versa.

Variation 2 may include a product as set forth in variation 1 wherein the at least one insert may define at least one through hole.

Variation 3 may include a product as set forth in any of variation 1 or 2 wherein the at least one insert may define at least one feed outlet in the top surface.

Variation 4 may include a product as set forth in any of variations 1 through 3 further including a cooling jacket insert assembly that may include at least one insert.

Variation 5 may include a product as set forth in any of variations 1 through 4 wherein the cooling jacket insert assembly may include one or more inserts arranged side by side and connected by one or more tie bands fixing each individual insert to one or more adjacent inserts.

Variation 6 may include a product that may include a cooling jacket insert assembly and an engine cylinder block. The engine cylinder block may include a plurality of cylinder bores, a coolant inlet, and a cooling jacket. The cooling jacket may surround at least a portion of the plurality of cylinder bores. The cooling jacket insert assembly may include at least one insert and may be constructed and arranged to divide the cooling jacket into a first cooling jacket portion not adjacent the plurality of cylinder bores and a second cooling jacket portion adjacent the plurality of cylinder bores. The at least one insert may include a concave surface, a convex surface, a first and second side surface, a bottom surface, and a top surface.

Variation 7 may include a product as set forth in variation 6 wherein the at least one insert may define one or more through holes in the concave surface and the convex surface. The one or more through holes may be constructed and arranged for allowing fluid coolant to flow from the first cooling jacket portion to the second cooling jacket portion and to the coolant inlet and vice versa.

Variation 8 may include a product as set forth in any of variations 6 through 7 wherein the top surface may define one or more feed outlets. The one or more feed outlets may be constructed and arranged to allow a fluid coolant to flow out of the first cooling jacket portion or the second cooling jacket portion or both.

Variation 9 may include a method that may include providing an engine cylinder block. The engine cylinder block may include a plurality of cylinder bores, a coolant inlet, and a cooling jacket. The cooling jacket may surround at least a portion of the plurality of cylinder bores. The method may also include providing a cooling jacket insert assembly. The cooling jacket insert assembly may include at least one insert and may be constructed and arranged to divide the cooling jacket into a first cooling jacket portion not adjacent the plurality of cylinder bores and a second cooling jacket portion adjacent the plurality of cylinder bores. The at least one insert may include a concave surface, a convex surface, a first and second side surface, a bottom surface, and a top surface. The method may further include inserting the cooling jacket insert assembly into the cooling jacket of the engine cylinder block such that the cooling jacket is divided into a first cooling jacket portion not adjacent the plurality of cylinder bores and a second cooling jacket portion adjacent the plurality of cylinder bores.

Variation 10 may include a method as set forth in variation 9 wherein the at least one insert may define one or more through holes in the concave surface and the convex surface. The one or more through holes may be constructed and arranged for allow fluid communication between the first cooling jacket portion to the second cooling jacket portion and to the coolant inlet and vice versa.

Variation 11 may include a method as set forth in any of variations 10 through 11 wherein the top surface may define one or more feed outlets. The one or more feed outlets may be constructed and arranged to allow fluid communication between the one or more feed inlets and the first cooling jacket portion or the second cooling jacket portion or both.

The above description of variations of the invention is merely demonstrative in nature and, thus, variations thereof are not to be regarded as a departure from the spirit and scope of the inventions disclosed within this document. 

1. A product comprising: at least one cooling jacket for an engine block cooling jacket comprising an insert comprising a concave surface, a convex surface, a first and second side surface, a top surface, and a bottom surface wherein the concave surface and the convex surface are juxtaposed such that the curve of the convex surface follows a curve similar to that of the concave surface, or vice versa.
 2. The product as set forth in claim 1, wherein: the at least one insert may define at least one through hole.
 3. The product as set forth in claim 1, wherein: the at least one insert defining at least one feed outlet in the top surface.
 4. The product as set forth in claim 1, further comprising: a cooling jacket insert assembly comprising at least one insert.
 5. The product as set forth in claim 1, wherein: the product further comprises a cooling jacket insert assembly that comprises the at least one cooling jacket insert, and wherein the at least one cooling jacket insert comprises one or more inserts arranged side by side and connected by one or more tie bands fixing each individual insert to one or more adjacent inserts.
 6. A product comprising: a cooling jacket insert assembly and an engine cylinder block; the engine cylinder block comprising a plurality of cylinder bores, a coolant outlet, and a cooling jacket; the cooling jacket surrounding at least a portion of the plurality of cylinder bores; the cooling jacket insert assembly comprising at least one insert and being constructed and arranged to divide the cooling jacket into a first cooling jacket portion not adjacent the plurality of cylinder bores and a second cooling jacket portion adjacent the plurality of cylinder bores; and the at least one insert comprising a concave surface, a convex surface, a first and second side surface, a bottom surface, and a top surface.
 7. The product as set forth in claim 6, wherein: the at least one insert defines one or more through holes in the concave surface and the convex surface; and the one or more through holes being constructed and arranged to allow fluid communication between the first cooling jacket portion to the second cooling jacket portion and to the coolant outlet and vice versa.
 8. The product as set forth in claim 6, wherein: the top surface defines one or more feed outlets; and the one or more feed outlets being constructed and arranged to allow a fluid communication between the one or more feed outlets out of the first cooling jacket portion or the second cooling jacket portion or both.
 9. A method comprising: providing an engine cylinder block; the engine cylinder block comprising a plurality of cylinder bores, a plurality of cylinder heads, a coolant outlet, and a cooling jacket; the cooling jacket surrounding at least a portion of the plurality of cylinder bores; providing a cooling jacket insert assembly; the cooling jacket insert assembly comprising at least one insert and being constructed and arranged to divide the cooling jacket into a first cooling jacket portion not adjacent the plurality of cylinder bores and a second cooling jacket portion adjacent the plurality of cylinder bores; the at least one insert comprising a concave surface, a convex surface, a first and second side surface, a bottom surface, and a top surface; disposing the cooling jacket insert assembly within the cooling jacket of the engine cylinder block; and dividing the cooling jacket into a first cooling jacket portion and a second cooling jacket portion.
 10. A method as set forth in claim 9, wherein: the at least one insert defines one or more through holes in the concave surface and the convex surface; the one or more through holes being constructed and arranged to allow fluid communication between the first cooling jacket portion to the second cooling jacket portion and to the coolant outlet and vice versa.
 11. A method as set forth in claim 9, wherein: the top surface defines one or more feed outlets; the one or more feed outlets being constructed and arranged to allow fluid communication between the one or more feed outlets into the first cooling jacket portion or the second cooling jacket portion or both. 